Page 26 of Something Forever
“Well, next time, put some fucking headphones in.”
It’s quiet for a moment, so I press on. “What’s holding you back? Talk me through it.”
“I don’t even know you!” she exclaims, throwing her craft supplies in the air. “And what I do know of you is really not winning me over. You’ve already told me to fuck off and ruined my craft night.”
“Pretend you do know me. Talk to me.”
She sighs, a heavy, lengthy sound, and reaches for her wine, taking a deep gulp. “Well, besides the fact that I don’t know you, and that this is probably illegal, I am actually looking for… it.” She shifts, her cheeks coloring slightly.
“Looking for what?”
“Love. A relationship. And maybe… marriage at some point,” she admits.
“Okay, well, maybe that’s still possible. What’s our timeline? Three years only, right?”
“Stop acting like this is happening!” she replies, her voice rising. “But yes. At least three years for everything to be processed. It’s not a single payout, she has it spaced out in three parts.”
Now, that stops me.
“Wait, the money won’t be immediate?” I clarify.
“No, only the first part.”
I push off the counter and head for the living room. “Alright, well, forget it then.”
She follows me and tugs on my shirt sleeve, stopping me in my tracks. She narrows her eyes at me. “What does that have to do with anything?”
I smirk down at her. “Well, sweetheart, I’m only doing this for the money.”
“What the hell do you mean? It’s my money.”
I shake my head. “Nah. You’re gonna split it with me, wife.”
She almost spits out her wine. “There is no way.” Her voice is ice cold and her gaze even colder.
I shrug like I couldn’t care less. “Alright, good luck finding someone else to marry you. You’re such a peach, I’m sure you’ll have no problem at all.”
She ignores my insult. “Why do you need the money?”
“Like you said. It’s private. I don’t care what this business venture is that you’re using your half for, so don’t ask about my half. That’s my one condition. We split the money, 50/50.”
“We are not doing this!” she exclaims, throwing her hands in the air.
“Listen, I’m not thrilled about the idea either. The last thing I want to do is marry you.”
“Gee, thanks. You really know how to propose to a girl.”
“The point is, I need the money and so do you. This is a win-win opportunity for both of us and nothing more than a business deal. There’s no need to think any more into it.”
“How about this… ” she trails off, her voice dripping with honey. “You marry me, and I won’t kick you out of my apartment.”
I rear back, shocked. I definitely underestimated this woman.
“You can’t do that,” I stutter. “I live here now.”
She laughs. “Oh, yes I can. You are not on the lease. You haven’t paid me a dime —”
“I Venmo’d you for utilities and sent Olivia the rent!”